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Train ticket advice - for Apprentice

My son has just started an apprenticeship scheme in Canary Wharf and we live in Dartford. The cost for standard travelcard is £55 p/week circa 30% of his weekly wage. If we lived in a London Borough he would receive discounted travel as an apprentice however as we are just outside it he just misses this benefit. Are any of you train loving people aware of any scheme that he could sign up to that could reduce his travel costs?

Before you all start, no, I am NOT moving.

Comments

  • Wilma
    Wilma Posts: 1,618
    Young Persons Railcard?

    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,045

    My son has just started an apprenticeship scheme in Canary Wharf and we live in Dartford. The cost for standard travelcard is £55 p/week circa 30% of his weekly wage. If we lived in a London Borough he would receive discounted travel as an apprentice however as we are just outside it he just misses this benefit. Are any of you train loving people aware of any scheme that he could sign up to that could reduce his travel costs?

    Before you all start, no, I am NOT moving.

    18-25 (or 18-30 I think now) travelcard might help?
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,045
    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk

    It’s 16-25 and gets you 1/3 off of rail fares.
  • Wilma said:

    Young Persons Railcard?

    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

    Thanks, he needs to travel during normal rush hour and what I believe from a rail card is that it cannot be used during peak travel.
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,045

    Wilma said:

    Young Persons Railcard?

    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

    Thanks, he needs to travel during normal rush hour and what I believe from a rail card is that it cannot be used during peak travel.
    Not sure that’s true - I just used their site and it says that with a rail card a normal rush hour ticket from London Bridge to Eltham would be £3.55 rather than the normal £5.40.

    Worth looking into.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,341
    How many days and hours a week is your son going to be working?

    It seems like his salary might be less than the statutory minimum wage. In which case they should be paying him more; or, at least, be persuaded to cover some or all of his travel costs.

  • Just confirmed this:

    Can I use my 16-25 Railcard at any time of day?
    A: Yes you can. However, for all journeys made between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday a minimum fare of £12 is payable. There is no minimum fare when you travel at weekends, on Public Holidays, or during July and August.

    If you travel regularly before 10 am, then a weekly or monthly season ticket may be more appropriate, though you won’t be able to get a Railcard discount.
  • iaitch
    iaitch Posts: 10,230
    Just checked the railcard website and 16-25 railcard covers these fares.

    Standard Anytime and Anytime Day Singles and Returns

    Standard Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns

    Standard Super Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns

    Standard and First Class Advance*

    Most Rail Rovers fares
    Gatwick Express, Stansted Express, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect Services
    Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go Daily Price Cap and Off-Peak pay as you go single fares for journeys on National Rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway
    Off-Peak Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 and some ticket types offered by individual train companies - please enquire locally for details (subject to minimum fare of £8.30)
    Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside the London Zones area (subject to minimum fare of £18.10)
  • iaitch
    iaitch Posts: 10,230
    Forget all that, it doesn't cover Travelcard Season Tickets which is what he wants, apologies.
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,851
    edited December 2018
    Chizz said:

    How many days and hours a week is your son going to be working?

    It seems like his salary might be less than the statutory minimum wage. In which case they should be paying him more; or, at least, be persuaded to cover some or all of his travel costs.

    The statutory minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.70 ph - seems they are meeting that.
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  • _MrDick
    _MrDick Posts: 13,108

    My son has just started an apprenticeship scheme in Canary Wharf and we live in Dartford. The cost for standard travelcard is £55 p/week circa 30% of his weekly wage. If we lived in a London Borough he would receive discounted travel as an apprentice however as we are just outside it he just misses this benefit. Are any of you train loving people aware of any scheme that he could sign up to that could reduce his travel costs?

    Before you all start, no, I am NOT moving.

    Get him to apply for a loan from the Bank of Mum and Dad. That's what my son does :cry:
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,045
    bobmunro said:

    Chizz said:

    How many days and hours a week is your son going to be working?

    It seems like his salary might be less than the statutory minimum wage. In which case they should be paying him more; or, at least, be persuaded to cover some or all of his travel costs.

    The statutory minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.70 ph - seems they are meeting that.
    It should at the very least be that + expenses, crazy otherwise.
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,868
    edited December 2018
    Looking on the bright side, by changing at Abbey Wood he can use Crossrail to get to Canary Wharf, as it opened this week :smile:
  • _MrDick said:

    My son has just started an apprenticeship scheme in Canary Wharf and we live in Dartford. The cost for standard travelcard is £55 p/week circa 30% of his weekly wage. If we lived in a London Borough he would receive discounted travel as an apprentice however as we are just outside it he just misses this benefit. Are any of you train loving people aware of any scheme that he could sign up to that could reduce his travel costs?

    Before you all start, no, I am NOT moving.

    Get him to apply for a loan from the Bank of Mum and Dad. That's what my son does :cry:
    I can see that this is where this is going but i want explore any other opportunity first before putting my hand in my pocket.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,298
    when i was an apprentice i was paid 582 a month and my travel was around the 172 mark, but the longer i stayed the higher my wages went up. we have apprentices now and do not cover there travelling becuase ultimately a fully qaulified plumber can earn 28-40k a year.
  • when i was an apprentice i was paid 582 a month and my travel was around the 172 mark, but the longer i stayed the higher my wages went up. we have apprentices now and do not cover there travelling becuase ultimately a fully qaulified plumber can earn 28-40k a year.

    There is no question that if/when he is allowed to get to the end of his apprenticeship he will earn well and the cost of travel won't be an issue.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,298

    when i was an apprentice i was paid 582 a month and my travel was around the 172 mark, but the longer i stayed the higher my wages went up. we have apprentices now and do not cover there travelling becuase ultimately a fully qaulified plumber can earn 28-40k a year.

    There is no question that if/when he is allowed to get to the end of his apprenticeship he will earn well and the cost of travel won't be an issue.
    but if you are learning a skill for life i don't think 70/30 split is that bad obviously i do not know if you charge rent etc or nor is it none of my business.
  • MrLargo
    MrLargo Posts: 7,991
    Good luck to your son with his apprenticeship, and I look forward to hearing from him on this thread sooner rather than later: http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/61121/southeastern-train-disruption-all-day-everyday-all-pages/p155

    Not really got any money saving suggestions I'm afraid. However, it's worth bearing in mind that fare evasion is much less frowned upon that it used to be, and actually applauded by many, as most commuters have now recognised that South Eastern Trains have been thieving of us all on a daily basis for years whilst providing a "service" which most people wouldn't use if they were paid to do so, if they had a viable alternative.

    Not sure what the ticket barrier situation's like at Dartford, but if you can sneak him on at that end without a ticket, he could get a train to St Johns (no barriers, no inspectors) and then walk 5 minutes to Deptford Bridge and get the DLR to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes. Good luck!
  • Wilma
    Wilma Posts: 1,618
    MrLargo said:


    Not sure what the ticket barrier situation's like at Dartford, but if you can sneak him on at that end without a ticket, he could get a train to St Johns (no barriers, no inspectors) and then walk 5 minutes to Deptford Bridge and get the DLR to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes. Good luck!

    The barrier is usually in operation and staffed with plenty of employees looking at their phones and occasionally looking up to see if any customers might need help. Difficult to get through without a ticket though.
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,733
    bobmunro said:

    Chizz said:

    How many days and hours a week is your son going to be working?

    It seems like his salary might be less than the statutory minimum wage. In which case they should be paying him more; or, at least, be persuaded to cover some or all of his travel costs.

    The statutory minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.70 ph - seems they are meeting that.
    takes the piss that
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  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,355
    look on the bright side, each way at £55 a week is only £5.50 .. the fact is that fares during working hours are a rip off and there is no easy (legal) way to get round them .. he's living at home (presumably) and after fares still has over £100 a week in his pocket. Just don't charge him too much B & B
  • The only cheaper option I can think off (if he's buying a travelcard) if to get one from zone 4/5/6 instead of Dartford, and use the red bus to get from Dartford to that starting station (which is included)

    Slower but cheaper. When I lived at home in Dartford I sometimes travelled from Crayford instead for that reason.
  • look on the bright side, each way at £55 a week is only £5.50 .. the fact is that fares during working hours are a rip off and there is no easy (legal) way to get round them .. he's living at home (presumably) and after fares still has over £100 a week in his pocket. Just don't charge him too much B & B

    He is fortunate that we can support him, to an extent.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,040
    edited December 2018
    He could cycle. Either all the way or to an intermediate station.
  • Carter
    Carter Posts: 14,251
    It's always been rough for apprentices and young people going into work. Dartford to canary wharf though would be worth thinking about the coach. Have to get an early one to avoid the heinous A2 but the coach drivers are among the worst offenders for flying down the Falconwood slip lane then holding every poor sod who is heading into Eltham and Falconwood up while they wait to be let back in so he should be ok

    55 quid a week sounds a lot but the real price is using southeastern trains.
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,661
    iainment said:

    He could cycle. Either all the way or to an intermediate station.

    Don't plumbers have tools?

    Maybe not if his training is classroom based.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,040
    LenGlover said:

    iainment said:

    He could cycle. Either all the way or to an intermediate station.

    Don't plumbers have tools?

    Maybe not if his training is classroom based.
    Pannier bags or cargo bike would cater for that.